Learning the slang of Houston and East Texas

Moving into one of the homes for sale in Houston, TX, requires some changes for people. First, you have to get used to the hot and humid Gulf Coast climate. Second, you'd better quickly develop a taste for barbecue and Tex-Mex food. Third, you'll need to be able to decipher the idiosyncratic slang of the area.

While some Houstonians worry that their unique slang is dying out, others maintain that it's going strong if you know where to look. For example, you soon won't be withdrawing money from an ATM - you'll be "pulsing" your cash according to the Houston Press.

Additionally, the high number of drive-through liquor stores hasn't continued to the present day without Houstonians finding some unique way to remark upon the phenomenon. That's why the terms party barn or beer barn have become common in East Texas.

If you drop off your garbage or need to turn over a container and get everything out of it, you won't be dumping or pouring. Instead, you'll be "tumping" the contents out, so make sure to respond accordingly when you hear this.

Families with teenage kids should be wary if they hear that their children have been "wrapping" houses. This isn't as innocuous as it sounds. In fact, it refers to TPing or toilet papering a house, a common activity in Houston - especially on Halloween.

Published by staff writer on January 19, 2012

FOLLOW US:

Stay in the Loop

Don't miss a single real estate tip or trend.

E-mail *

ABOUT ZIPREALTY

ZipRealty is a full-service residential real estate brokerage firm serving 25 major metros nationwide. Our local, licensed REALTORs work hand-in-hand with our innovative technologies and rich market data to effectively help you find (and own!) the home that's meant for you.Read More »